Why

Plain air-popped popcorn is a fun, light treat that many budgies enjoy pecking at, and it is essentially just popped wholegrain corn. The catch is that it must be truly plain, with no salt, butter, oil, sugar or toffee coating, as these are the parts that make shop-bought and cinema popcorn unsuitable. Hard unpopped kernels are also a genuine choking and crop hazard for a small bird, so they need picking out. Treated with these precautions, popcorn is harmless but offers little real nutrition, so it stays an occasional bit of fun.

How to feed it

Air-pop plain corn kernels with no oil, or use a plain pre-popped piece, and add absolutely no salt, butter or sugar. Let it cool, then break off a small fluffy piece for your budgie. Crucially, remove every hard unpopped or half-popped kernel first, as these are a choking risk. Clear away leftovers so they do not go stale.

How much & how often

A small piece or two of the soft popped part, offered occasionally as a bit of enrichment. It is light and mostly air, but it has little nutritional value, so it should stay a now-and-then treat.